Tunisia

• In 2013, tourism brought 6.2 million people to Tunisia
• The North African NEE had a GNI per capita of $4320 in 2014
• Life expectancy has risen from 42 to 75 in Tunisia since 1960, showing social development
• Why Tunisia is a popular tourist destination

  • The climate is Mediterranean, so it has hot summers and mild, warm winters (Coastal temperatures reach 40 degrees C in coastal city of Sousse)
  • It is close to Europe so it is accessible, while it was a French colony so the people speak French making it popular with French-speaking tourists
  • It contains 7 UNESCO World Heritage sites including ancient remains of the city of Carthage
  • It has many diverse physical landscapes, from coastal areas to mountains and the Saharan Desert. Star Wars was shot in parts of the desert, attracting fans of the films
  • Cheap package holidays are available since package holidays were introduced in the 1960s - the government worked with companies like Thomas Cook to turn it into a tourist destination
• How tourism in Tunisia has helped to reduce the development gap

  • Was an LIC before 1970s, development of tourism has helped to diversify country's economy so it isn't just based on agriculture (farming)
  • Incomes quadrupled in 1970s partially due to tourism, meaning better diets and health increased life expectancy
  • Literacy rates have increased from 66% to 79% since 1995 as more families can afford to send their children to school and even university
  • Exposure to other cultures and connections with other places have increased which has changed attitudes towards girls; school is now compulsory for them and so women are more educated and are now going to university too
  • 8% of GDP income for the country
• 2015 Sousse terrorist attacks caused a huge drop in tourist numbers and overdependence on one industry can hinder progress at reducing the gap